Help please. Spasmed - Cramped

In terms of literature, which isn't school grammar (and the site is called LITER ...), creative writers can certainly use precedence extensions of any given word, even if it is not in "the" "dictionary."

That includes turning verbs into nouns, and using extensions on words in the same structure as all the other words that have these extensions.

Literature can and probably should go further than that and embrace word creations, new words and in general, take that dictionary out of the wrinkled, age spotted claws of the school teacher and then chuck it out of the window if that should become necessary in the course of creative expression.

There is a place for clinging white knuckled to the dictionary, but is attempting to evoke passionate and visceral human interactions that place?

I think not.

Shoot me ...

BANG!

Just kidding. Saw this and couldn't help myself. After all you practically begged for it.
 
Yes, I can. You missed the last line of this part of the page:

Definition of SPASM
1
: an involuntary and abnormal muscular contraction
2
: a sudden violent and temporary effort, emotion, or sensation <a spasm of creativity> <spasms of pain>
I spa— spasm intransitive verb

I speak from experience as I've had two and been rushed to the hospital in both cases. Heart spasms, that is.

The spasm often occurs in coronary arteries that have not become hardened due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). However, it also can occur in arteries with plaque buildup.

These spasms are due to a squeezing of muscles in the artery wall. They usually occur in just one area of the artery. The coronary artery may appear normal during testing, but it does not function normally.

Just saying there are multiple meanings of "spasms" is all.
 
Okay. I've done everything I can think of to figure this out but I can't find the solution, so I'm turning to greater minds (yes you).

The words 'cramp' and 'spasm' are both listed as nouns in the dictionary. -ed is used to turn a verb into a past participle. But what's the deal here. -ed is not listed as a general suffix, but does that mean that 'His leg cramped.' or 'Her back spasmed.' are incorrect? What am I missing. Where do I look for information on this idea.

Please don't say "Yeah, they're fine" and walk away. I need to know why. Inquiring mind wants to know.

I couldn't help myself, so I checked this out again... God help us! LOL!

First, I looked up "spasmed" and it gave me this. Spasmed is not in Mondofacto Medical Dictionary however, "spasmo" is:
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?spasmo-

"spasmo- medical dictionary
<prefix>
A combining form or prefix meaning relating to spasm.
Origin: G. Spasmos
(05 Mar 2000)"

Then I clicked on "spasm" and got this:
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?query=spasm&action=look+it+up

"spasm medical dictionary

1. <physiology> A sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of a muscle or a group of muscles, attended by pain and interference with function, producing involuntary movement and distortion.

2. A sudden but transitory constriction of a passage, canal or orifice.

Origin: L. Spasmus, Gr. Spasmos
(11 Mar 2008)"

This lead me to click on "spasmodic."
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?spasmodic:

It says this:

"spasmodic medical dictionary
Of the nature of a spasm.
Origin: Gr. Spasmodes
(11 Mar 2008)"

I also checked on "cramped."
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?cramp

I got this:

"Cramp:
1. A painful muscle spasm caused by prolonged tetanic contraction.

2. A localised muscle spasm related to occupational use, qualified according to the occupation of the sufferer; e.g., seamstress's cramp, writer's cramp.

Origin: M.E. Crampe, fr. O. Fr., fr. Germanic
(05 Mar 2000) "

...which lead me to check out "constricted":
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?constriction,+pathologic

"constriction, pathologic medical dictionary

The condition of an anatomical structure's being constricted beyond normal dimensions.
(12 Dec 1998)"

Maybe we could submit a past tense word for them! How's "Spasictioned?!"

Next I checked for "Cramped":
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?query=cramped&action=look+it+up

It gave me this:

"Cramer, Friedrich, Cramer wire splint, cramp < Prev | Next > Crampton, Sir Philip, Crampton's line"
"Sorry, the term cramped is not in the dictionary. Check the spelling and try removing suffixes like '-ing' and '-s'."

Okay, so I tried for the definition of "cramp":
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?query=cramp&action=look+it+up

Here it is: "cramp medical dictionary

1. A painful muscle spasm caused by prolonged tetanic contraction.

2. A localised muscle spasm related to occupational use, qualified according to the occupation of the sufferer; e.g., seamstress's cramp, writer's cramp.

Origin: M.E. Crampe, fr. O. Fr., fr. Germanic
(05 Mar 2000)"

This lead me to "muscle spasm":
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?muscle+spasm

Definition: " <physiology> Painful involuntary muscle contractions. Often seen in skeletal muscle after acute injury (muscle strain).
(07 Apr 1998)"

Just for grins and giggles, I clicked on "Muscle spasticity":
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?muscle+spasticity

Are you ready? Here it is:
"A combination of the symptoms of increased resistance to lengthening, hyperactive tendon reflexes, and clonus. Muscle spasticity occurs in hemiplegia.
(12 Dec 1998)"

So I clicked on "hemiplegia":
http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?hemiplegia

"hemiplegia medical dictionary

<neurology> Paralysis of one side of the body.
Origin: Gr. Pleg = stroke
(11 Mar 2008)"

Well that isn't it, so I went to the Word Visualizer and entered "cramped."

Definition: Contricted in size: "Cramped Quarters"; "To bring children up in cramped high-rise apartments."

Finally, I checked Wiktionary for spasmed:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spasmed

"spasmed
English
Verb
spasmed

1. Simple past tense and past participle of spasm.

Categories:
English simple past forms
English past participles

I clicked English simple past forms"

"Category: English simple past forms
English simple past forms (the regular with the ending -ed and the irregular with the ending another than -ed). Almost all of them are both indicative past forms and subjunctive past forms, but wert is only a subjunctive past form and was and wast are only indicative past forms.

Pages in category "English simple past forms"

The following 200 pages are in this category, out of 17,752 total.

So I clicked on "so," (the category) which lead me to click on "spasmed" which brought me back to the above definition.

Then I clicked:
"English past participles"
http://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Category:English_past_participles&pagefrom=so
(also the category ("so")

"Category:English past participles
Jump to: navigation, search

"This category contains English past participles:

English verbs that are conjugated to indicate completed events at unspecified moments"

"English simple past forms (the regular with the ending -ed and the irregular with the ending another than -ed). Almost all of them are both indicative past forms and subjunctive past forms, but wert is only a subjunctive past form and was and wast are only indicative past forms."

I'm choosing wikipedia and letting it go before my head spasms into a huge cramp called
migraine! Good luck!

~K~


Wildfire8470
 
I very much agree. I was just shocked at the lack of resources for the latter form "spasmed," even in a medical dictionary. I'm sorry. Honestly, I meant no offense. My mother is suffering debilitating back spasms right now so, I'm acutely aware that there are many forms and it does exist. Why isn't there a good definition for it's past participle?

~K~


I speak from experience as I've had two and been rushed to the hospital in both cases. Heart spasms, that is.

The spasm often occurs in coronary arteries that have not become hardened due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). However, it also can occur in arteries with plaque buildup.

These spasms are due to a squeezing of muscles in the artery wall. They usually occur in just one area of the artery. The coronary artery may appear normal during testing, but it does not function normally.

Just saying there are multiple meanings of "spasms" is all.
 
You're welcome. :)

~K~


I speak from experience as I've had two and been rushed to the hospital in both cases. Heart spasms, that is.

The spasm often occurs in coronary arteries that have not become hardened due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). However, it also can occur in arteries with plaque buildup.

These spasms are due to a squeezing of muscles in the artery wall. They usually occur in just one area of the artery. The coronary artery may appear normal during testing, but it does not function normally.

Just saying there are multiple meanings of "spasms" is all.

Thanks for all that went into that Wildfire8470
 
No kidding? Haha! I'm so glad I joined this group. I'm learning lots of cool information!

~K~


There is also convulsing and convulsions.

As an alternative to cramps and spasming.

And contractions.

In Victorian times, a spasm was the medical term for an involuntary orgasm suddenly erupting due to lack of sexual activity; spasming was deemed to be a mental disorder and could lead to being put into a lunatic asylum. It was not uncommon for people to spasm in the streets at the sight of a ladies shoe and such ...
 
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